The Lion of Justice by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online Page A

‘Do you disobey me, then?’
    â€˜Nay, Mother.’ The nun came to the prostrate figure of Edith and lifted the cane. It came down stinging her across the thighs. ‘Again,’ said the Abbess. ‘Are you so feeble that you can do no better than that? Again and again.’
    Edith turned her back on them and covered her face with her hands. ‘Oh, Uncle Edgar,’ she prayed, ‘why did you send us here?’
    The Abbess had snatched the cane from the nun that she herself might use it. The strokes were more firm, more vicious.
    â€˜Aunt Christina, I beg of you . . .’
    â€˜Ah, the miscreant becomes a penitent. Yes, daughter, what have you to say?’
    â€˜Do not, I beg of you.’
    â€˜Then you will wear the robe and love the robe, the outward sign of that which is holy?’
    â€˜Yes, I will wear the robe.’
    The Abbess laughed. ‘Your tender skin may rebel even more so than before. There are weals on your buttocks, girl. Do not strip naked and dream that they have been put there by a too eager lover. Come, get up. Put on your shift. Is it not shameful that you should stand thus naked. You will love the robe. You will remember that these are the robes of the Black Benedictines, which our famous ancestor founded. You will pray that you may be purged of your worldliness. Come, I am impatient.’
    Painfully Edith rose to her feet. Over her head went the hideous black hairy shift: she was enclosed once more in the black robes.
    â€˜On your knees,’ said the Abbess, ‘ask for forgiveness, for you are in dire need of the intercession of the saints.’
    With lowered eyes Edith stood before her aunt. The Abbess was satisfied. She turned and with the attendant nun left the cell.
    So she must wear the robes. But never never shall I take the veil, Edith promised herself. This could not go on. A time would come when Uncle Edgar came to visit them. Then she would remind him of her father’s determination that she should marry. Her mother, it was true, had wished her to take the veil, but her mother had not known how vehemently she hated it.
    She shuddered as the rough stuff touched her sore body.
    She would never forget the sight of Aunt Christina, the cane raised in her hand, her eyes gleaming with a virtue so intense that it was like a fierce pleasure.
    How she longed for the old days in the schoolroom under dear old Turgot.
    But the beating had strengthened her determination to escape.
    There were visitors to Rumsey Abbey. Alan, Duke of Bretagne, wished to pay his respects not only to the Abbess but to the Atheling ladies whom he understood were being educated there.
    The Abbess was gracious yet haughty.
    â€˜It is not the custom of the Abbey to allow novitiates to receive visitors.’
    â€˜Novitiates!’ cried Alan. ‘I understand that the Princesses were merely here to receive an education, and were destined to play that part in the world so often reserved for ladies of their blood.’
    â€˜They have a great desire for the convent life,’ said the Abbess, and then, to absolve her soul, she thought: As yet they are not fully aware of this but it exists.
    â€˜I do not think it is the desire of their uncle and their eldest brother that they should take the veil.’
    â€˜That is a matter for the future. For this time I mustrespect their youth. They cannot receive visitors.’
    â€˜I understood differently from the King.’
    â€˜You come from the King?’
    â€˜With his blessing.’
    The Abbess was taken aback. She dared not offend Rufus. She had to be grateful that he allowed her, a member of the Atheling family, to take up the post of Abbess in an English abbey. If Rufus had sent Alan of Bretagne here it could be with one purpose. He was a possible husband for one of the girls, and as Edith was the elder her turn would probably come first.
    This was disturbing, but the Abbess was not one to be disturbed for